Update6: Smollett reportedly directed at least one of the Nigerian brothers to purchase the rope (at either an ACE hardware store, or the Crafty Beaver hardware store) and hats. They were also paid $3,500 each prior to leaving for Nigeria and promised $500 each upon their return, according to CBS Chicago’s Charlie De Mar.

#Breaking: 2 #CPD sources tell @fox32news the brothers arrested & released in #JussieSmollett case told detectives they were paid by the #Empire actor to orchestrate the attack. Detectives also have a receipt for the rope found on #Smollett neck showing the brothers bought it.

Smollett case news. Backing up @RaferWeigel report: @ABC confirms detectives were able to confront the 2 brothers with evidence they purchased the rope found around Smollett’s neck at an Ace hardware store. The brothers agreed to cooperate with police.

It appears that Jussie Smollett tried to manufacture a hate crime to make Trump supporters look bad and most of the media not only uncritically accepted his lies as facts for weeks, but attacked those who questioned the validity of his false story.